Exhaust stack for outdoor heaters

ABSTRACT

Exhaust stack for an outdoor heater including a vent pipe terminating in an upwardly directed open end having annular wind openings in the wall of the vent pipe which are positioned adjacent to its open end. Downwardly directed wind deflectors are positioned outwardly of and extending over the wind openings and spacer elements are positioned within the vent pipe adjacent its open upper end which divide the vent pipe into four substantially pie-shaped quarter sections, the spacer elements extending downwardly in the vent pipe past the wind openings. The upper surfaces of the spacer elements are inclined upwardly toward the center of the vent pipe and a wire mesh screen is positioned in contact with the upper surfaces of the spacer elements to form an upper surface for the vent pipe having a generally conical configuration.

United States Patent 11 1 3,636,853 Sable [451 Jan. 25, 1972 [54]EXHAUST STACK FOR ()UTDOOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS HEATERS [72]Inventor: Chester A. Sable, Orange County, Calif. [73] Assignee: AnthonyIndustries, Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 17,112

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.889,475, Dec. 31,

1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..98/78,98/60 [51] 1nt.Cl ..F23l 17/02 [58] Field oiSearch..98/58-60, 66-70, 98/78, 79

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 530,418 12/1894 lngalls..98/78 967,028 8/1910 Mowenm 2,164,987 7/1939 Cover 1,785,228 12/1930Schmidt ..98/66 16,731 0/1900 Great Britain ..98/66 531,918 1/1941 GreatBritain.. ....98/78 569,500 11/1957 Italy ..98/78 Primary ExaminerEdwardJ. Michael A!!orney-Thomas H. Jones and Kendrick and Subkow 57] ABSTRACTare inclined upwardly toward the center of the vent pipe and a wire meshscreen is positioned in contact with the upper surfaces of the spacerelements to form an upper surface for the vent pipe having a generallyconical configuration.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures EXHAUST STACK FOR OUTDOOR HEATERS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application,Ser. No. 889,475, filed Dec. 31, 1969, which is now abandoned.

The present invention pertains to an exhaust stack configuration for usewith an outdoor heater to minimize downdrafts through the exhaust stackof the heater which would have a deleterious effect upon the combustioncharacteristics of the heater.

Outdoor heaters are widely employed for heating the water contained inswimming pools. In such use, swimming pool water is circulated from thepool to the heater and then back to the pool.

In the use of an outdoor heater, e.g., in heating water for a swimmingpool, it is necessary that the heater function satisfactorily underadverse climatic conditions. Typical of such adverse conditions are theeffect of wind on the combustion efiiciency of the heater. Wind forcesmay, and frequently do, fluctuate widely in terms of their force andtheir direction from one moment to another. These wind forces can causedowndrafts in the exhaust stack of an outdoor heater which can impairits combustion efficiency and, in extreme cases, can extinguishcombustion altogether.

In providing an exhaust stack for an outdoor heater which functionssatisfactorily in minimizing the adverse effect of wind forces, I havealso provided an exhaust stack which is reasonably short in height andextends above the heater top only a short distance, such as a fewinches. The reasonably short height of my exhaust stack is advantageousin that it improves the overall appearance of the heater and gives it acompact appearance. The use of an exhaust stack which is fairly high andextends upwardly above the heater for a distance of several feet may beunsightly and, therefore, undesirable to a homeowner if the exhauststack protrudes above the level of the typical backyard fence. Thus,there is a substantial need for an exhaust stack, as provided by thepresent invention, which functions satisfactorily in minimizing theeffect of wind forces upon the combustion efiiciency of the heater andwhich, at the same time, provides an exhaust stack which is relativelyshort in height.

In illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of an outdoor heater employing anexhaust stack of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the exhaust stack along the line 2 ofFIG.1,and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the exhaust stack as shown in FIG. 2 withportions broken away to more clearly illustrate the interior ofthestack.

An outdoor swimming pool heater, as generally indicated by referencenumeral 2 in FIG. I, has positioned on its upper surface an exhauststack generally indicated by reference numeral 4. Air may be introducedinto the heater 2 through openings 40 where it and the exhaust productspass upwardly out of the heater through exhaust stack 4. The particularmanner in which air is introduced into the heater may, of course, bevaried, since the present invention is concerned only with the structureof the exhaust stack and not with the structure of the heater with whichit may be used.

Turning to FIG. 2, a heater frame or support 6 may have a stub pipe 8affixed to its upper surface. A vent pipe 10 surrounds the outer surfaceof stub pipe 8 and is supported thereby. The vent pipe 10 extendsthrough a hole in the heater body 11 such that only a short length ofthe vent pipe protrudes above the heater body. The vent pipe 10 has anupwardly directed open end and positioned adjacent the open end areannular wind openings 14. If desired, the vent pipe 10 can have windopenings positioned at several levels along the height of the vent pipe10 which extends above heater body 11. Wind deflectors 12 are positionedoutwardly of and extending over the openings 14. As illustrated in FIG.2, the wind deflectors 12 form an angle with the exterior surface of thevent pipe 10. Preferably, the angle formed between the wind deflectorsl2 and the vent pipe 10 is approximately 45. I

have found that this angle works very well in providing a suitable rateof airflow through the openings 14, which is deflected upwardly withrespect to the vent pipe 10 such that the entering air, as indicated bythe arrows A, has a tendency to produce an updraft within vent pipe 10.

The wind deflectors 12 preferably have a downwardly directed lip orskirt portion 13. The lip 13 tends to prevent the entry of rainwaterthrough opening 14 where the rainwater may have a tendency to run downthe interior surface 15 of vent pipe 10 into the heater 2. The termheater is used herein in a general sense to also include boilers. Thedistinction between boilers and heaters relates to the pressure of theliquid being heated and the heating efiiciencies. In technical terms, anoutdoor swimming pool heater is generally a boiler.

Positioned within the vent pipe 10 adjacent its upper end are aplurality of spacer elements 16. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the spacerelements 16 contains a slot 17 which extends approximately halfwaythrough the element and terminates at a surface 19. Each spacer element16 has upper surfaces 38 which are inclined upwardly toward the axis ofthe vent pipe 10 and corresponding lower surfaces 39 which are inclineddownwardly toward the axis of vent pipe 10. Two spacer elements 16 arejoined together to form a unitary structure by engaging the slot 17 ofone of the elements with the corresponding slot in the other element.The angles which the upper surfaces 38 make with the axis of vent pipe10 are the same as the angles made by the lower surfaces 39 with thevent pipe axis. Thus, the spacer elements 16 are completelyinterchangeable since their lower surfaces 39 can become upper surfaces38 merely by turning the spacer upside down.

The spacer elements 16 divide the vent pipe into four substantiallypie-shaped quarter sections which are indicated by reference numerals30, 32, 34 and 36. Exhaust gases indicated by the arrows B may passupwardly through the vent pipe 10 through each of the quarter sections30, 32, 34 and 36. The wind entering a particular quarter segmentthrough openings 14 will be confined within that quarter segment by thespacer element 16. Thus, if the entering wind has an adverse effect uponthe updraft from the stack, the adverse effect will be minimized byconfining it to one or more quarter sections. The exhaust gases willstill flow in a substantially uniform manner in the quarter sectionswhich are not affected by the entering wind force, with the result thatthe overall performance of the stack will be relatively smooth.

As shown in FIG. 2, a wire mesh screen 28 engages the upper surfaces 38of the spacer elements 16 and is connected to the upper edge 29 of ventpipe 10 by any suitable means (not shown). By virtue of the upwardinclination of surfaces 38, the overlying screen 28 defines agenerallyconical surface. The conical configuration of the surfaceformed by screen 28 prevents debris from collecting on the top of thevent stack which can impede the upward flow of exhaust gases. Also, thescreen 28 acts as a safety measure to prevent children from thrustingtheir hands into the stack where they might be burned.

The wind deflectors 12 have straight cylindrical portions 22. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portions 22 engage the outersurface of vent pipe 10 and may be connected thereto by any suitablemeans, such as welding, to provide a rigid support for wind deflectors12.

After mixing of the exhaust gases flowing in the direction of arrows Bwith the wind or air flowing in the direction of arrows A, the combinedgases are ejected from the exhaust stack in the direction indicated byarrows C. Entering wind, as described previously, is deflected upwardlyby the wind deflectors 12 such that the overall effect of the wind is toprovide an updraft within the exhaust stack. Any adverse effects of theentering wind are confined to one or more of four sections 30, 32, 34and 36 by the spacer elements 16 which are positioned within the ventpipe 10.

There is no provision in my exhaust stack for preventing the entry ofrain or other precipitation through the top of the stack since the topis open and is covered only by wire mesh screen 28. Water entering thetop of vent pipe is permitted to fall freely through the pipe and intothe open stack within the heater. The water may fall freely through theheater without impairing its combustion, after which the water may beremoved by a drain (not shown), which can be conveniently located nearthe bottom of the heater. if desired, a rain deflector plate of anyconventional design may be mounted above screen 28 if it is desired touse my exhaust stack for a heater whose interior must be shielded frommoisture.

As illustrated, the vent pipe 10 is supported by a frame or support 6within the heater. The manner of supporting vent pipe 10 can, of course,be altered in the use of my exhaust stack. For example, the vent pipe 10could be shortened and connected directly to the body 11 of the heater.Also, if desired, the openings 14 can be covered by a screen placedWithin the vent pipe.

I claim:

1. An exhaust stack for an outdoor heater comprising:

a vent pipe terminating in an upwardly directed open end;

annular wind openings in said vent pipe positioned adjacent said openend;

downwardly directed wind deflectors positioned. outwardly of andextending over said wind openings;

spacer elements positioned at the upper open end of said vent pipe anddividing said vent pipe into four substantially pie-shaped quartersections, said spacer elements extending downwardly past said windopenings;

the upper surfaces of said spacer elements being inclined upwardly at anangle toward the center of said vent pipe, and

a wire mesh screen positioned in contact with the upper surfaces of saidspacer elements to form an upper surface having a generally conicalconfiguration, whereby wind entering said wind openings is deflectedupwardly by said wind deflectors, after which it may contact said spacerelements which tend to combine the effect of the wind to the one or moresubstantially pie-shaped quarter sections within said vent pipe whichcommunicate respectively with the one or more openings through which thewind enters.

2. The exhaust stack of claim 1 including a slot in each of said spacerelements, the spacer elements being joined together to form a unitarystructure by engaging the slot in one of said elements with acorresponding slot in another of said elements.

3. The exhaust stack of claim 2 wherein the bottom surfaces of saidspacer elements are inclined downwardly toward the center of said ventpipe at an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination of the uppersurfaces of said spacer elements.

4. The exhaust stack of claim 1 wherein said wind deflectors make anangle of about 45 with said vent pipe.

5. The exhaust stack of claim 1 including a rain lip formed on theextremities of said wind deflectors.

6. The exhaust stack of claim 2 wherein the end portions of each of saidspacer elements are bent over to form tabs which contact the innersurface of said vent pipe.

7. The exhaust stack of claim 2 wherein said wind openings are spaced atmore than one level with respect to the end of said vent pipe, the firstlevel being immediately adjacent and parallel to the end of said ventpipe and other levels being spaced from and parallel to the first level.

1. An exhaust stack for an outdoor heater comprising: a vent pipeterminating in an upwardly directed open end; annular wind openings insaid vent pipe positioned adjacent said open end; downwardly directedwind deflectors positioned outwardly of and extending over said windopenings; spacer elements positioned at the upper open end of said ventpipe and dividing said vent pipe into four substantially pieshapedquarter sections, said spacer elements extending downwardly past saidwind openings; the upper surfaces of said spacer elements being inclinedupwardly at an angle toward the center of said vent pipe, and a wiremesh screen positioned in contact with the upper surfaces of said spacerelements to form an upper surface having a generally conicalconfiguration, whereby wind entering said wind openings is deflectedupwardly by said wind deflectors, after which it may contact said spacerelements which tend to combine the effect of the wind to the one or moresubstantially pie-shaped quarter sections within said vent pipe whichcommunicate respectively with the one or more openings through which thewind enterS.
 2. The exhaust stack of claim 1 including a slot in each ofsaid spacer elements, the spacer elements being joined together to forma unitary structure by engaging the slot in one of said elements with acorresponding slot in another of said elements.
 3. The exhaust stack ofclaim 2 wherein the bottom surfaces of said spacer elements are inclineddownwardly toward the center of said vent pipe at an angle correspondingto the angle of inclination of the upper surfaces of said spacerelements.
 4. The exhaust stack of claim 1 wherein said wind deflectorsmake an angle of about 45* with said vent pipe.
 5. The exhaust stack ofclaim 1 including a rain lip formed on the extremities of said winddeflectors.
 6. The exhaust stack of claim 2 wherein the end portions ofeach of said spacer elements are bent over to form tabs which contactthe inner surface of said vent pipe.
 7. The exhaust stack of claim 2wherein said wind openings are spaced at more than one level withrespect to the end of said vent pipe, the first level being immediatelyadjacent and parallel to the end of said vent pipe and other levelsbeing spaced from and parallel to the first level.